Our nation is infamous for the way African Americans have been treated over the last few centuries. Even up to this day African Americans are still subject to unfair treatment. In the Black Theatre piece, Edward G. Smith talks more specifically of how African Americans have been treated on stage. Smith explains how black people have been part of the American stage since as early as the 1700s but much of their role has been unfortunately overlooked.
Originally, blacks were mainly portrayed in a very negative light. They were portrayed as slaves, who lacked any intellect or depth. This was first done in 1769 in the play The Podlock. It wasn’t until 1776 in the play The Fall of British Tyranny, where blacks were shown in a more accurate light. However, as years went by, blacks were still being portrayed as the “comic, shuffling, thank-you-sir servants”.
Later in the 1840s, a new form of theatre known as minstrelsy came to place. This wasn’t very popular either as it enforced common negative stereotypes of black people. Things took a turn however in the early 1900’s when the Harlem Renaissance took place. An intellectual awakening took place , and the negative stereotypes of African Americans began to fade away. Later on, once the civil rights movement took place, blacks became better presented in theater.
Originally, blacks were mainly portrayed in a very negative light. They were portrayed as slaves, who lacked any intellect or depth. This was first done in 1769 in the play The Podlock. It wasn’t until 1776 in the play The Fall of British Tyranny, where blacks were shown in a more accurate light. However, as years went by, blacks were still being portrayed as the “comic, shuffling, thank-you-sir servants”.
Later in the 1840s, a new form of theatre known as minstrelsy came to place. This wasn’t very popular either as it enforced common negative stereotypes of black people. Things took a turn however in the early 1900’s when the Harlem Renaissance took place. An intellectual awakening took place , and the negative stereotypes of African Americans began to fade away. Later on, once the civil rights movement took place, blacks became better presented in theater.